Rotary engine.



.T. H.LINDLEY & H. S'CHREIER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5,1916.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917,

3 SHEETSSHEET I II'IIIIIHIIE T. H. LINDLEY & H. SCHREIER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5,1915.

1,220,244. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

56 5 VWMOQ/J w Ww W T. H.LINDLEY & H. SCHREIERL ROTARY ENGlNE.

APPLICATIONIILED AUG-5.1916.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- LQQ MQL ROTARY ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS H. LIXDLEY and HERMAN Sci-metre, both citizens of the Ynit-ed States, and residents, respectively, of Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa. and of Sheboygan, in thecounty of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in rotary engines, more particularly of that type embodied in Patent Xo. 986.636 granted to us March 14, 1911 and comprising a cylindrical casing divided by a transverse partition into a pair of compartments in each of which is rotatably mounted a piston block said blocks forming annular chambers in conjunction with the casing and partition and carrying piston blocks which project across the chambers and coact with gates carried by the casing and also projecting across the chambers whereby steam or other motive fluid introduced between each piston blade and its corresponding gate will impart rotation to the corresponding piston block, these gates being movable out of the chamber to permit successive movements of the piston blades therepast.

It is in general the object of the present invention to simplify and otherwise improve the structure and to increase the efiiciency of engines of this character. Y

More specifically with respect to the supply of steam or other motive fluid to the en gine it is an object to provide a means for varying the amount of motive fluid supplied in successive actuations of the engine, whereby to vary the operation thereof.

It is further an object in connection with the gates to provide a means operable immediately prior to movement of the gate to retracted position. for relieving the steam pressure in the chamber which exists between eachgate and its corresponding piston blade, whereby resistance offered to such movement of the gate is prevented. 5

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of an exceedingly simple combined valve for controll ng the inlet port of the chambers. l 1

A still further object resides in the provision of an improved meansfonassociating SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 5, 1916.

Paten Serial No. 113,228.

the piston blades with piston block. 3.

l more detailed objec reside nthe rovision of a means fora-operating thelgates wherein a positive contr M for thewmoye n thereof is had to prevent i \Vith the above and othe vantages in view the invention resides. 1119 76 particularly in the 11033.8 omb'ination, 1a-rrangement and formation ofzjipartjs hereine after described and pointe t i ;.t l 1e.v pended claims. '7

In the drawings: v a

Figure 1 is a side elevation];oii the .1111- proved engine showing more 'p artic11larly the independent means controllingthe nopement of the gates and;.the introdritionof motive fluid. l

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the engine as indicated .by tl1e,line.2, 2 ;-of

Fig. 3 is a horizontal-sectional view through the engine as indicated by ithe 33 ofF1g.2

Fig. l 1s a horlzontahsectional.,view on he line H of Fig. 2 through the combined Fig. 5 is a detailed sectipnal v line 55 of Fig. 3 showing adj usting meaiis of the valve cam. i

Referring now more particularly." tofthe accompanying drawings, lithe; engine. 'comprises a main casing torme d of t lielsubstantially circular S1deYallS 5,. 'the annuliar wall sections 6 and be ng prov ded with ;a

transverse partition T dividing thefcasing into a pair of compartments. the} side. I having outwardl y pro'ected l bfa in'g sleeves 8 formed thereon and inwhichis journaled the engine shaft 9.: Fiiie d" on the engine shaft within each compartment aals cylindrical piston block,"ltlfwliicl lie/of lesser diameter than "the; casing; to a to therewith an annular steanichamber j Inasmuch as each piston block and its associated structure is identical i at'ure3onlyonefw ill be specifically described .andgthej numerals applied thereto are applied equally tofthe other.

At diametrically opposedperipheralportions each'piston block li vide it substantially radial slot ll jopen t he sides and periphery o the blbCkian ed in this slot is apisto N ten jects outwardly therelfiom the chamber and which is provided with packin members 13 engaging against the sldes o the compartment and with a transverse acking member 13 engaging the outer perip cry of the steam chamber. This piston blade is secured in the slot by a tongue Mat one side thereof which extends into and is secured in a longitudinal open slot 15 in the periphery of the piston block, it being noted for further reference that this slot extends from the piston blade, and that the tongue is spaced inwardly of the mouth of the outer portion of the slot. At diametrically opposed portions the steam chamber is provided with an extension 16 into the peripheral wall of the casing and pivoted at one end of each extension is a gate 17 which is adapted to swing across the chamher to close it, and which when swung into the recess provides clearance for the piston "blades. To prevent binding action of the -gates on the periphery of the piston block when steam is introduced between the gates,

and piston blades, and also to provide a tight packing between the ends of the gates and the walls of the compartment, the ends of the gates are extended into sector shaped re: cesses 18 in the corresponding side and partition wall and the inner edges of'these recesses form seating shoulders for the gates. It is'noted that the gates extend in opposite directions from the pivotal connections, and are diagonally disposed in operative position across the steam chamber. Communicatin with each ate receivin recess an inlet port 19 is formed in the casing and at the opposite sides of the gates outlet ports 20 are provided in the casing.

Steam is admitted simultaneously through both inlet ports 19, and by the foregoing arrangement an opposed action of the steam on the piston block is procured which prevents the binding strain exerted on the shaft '9 such as would occur were steam introduced at only one side of the casing, as in our said previous patent.

While we have described only two piston blades and their associated mechanisms on ,the piston block, it is obvious that any numher of blades could be employed inv suitably spaced relation on the block, the essential feature being the introduction of motive fluid simultaneously into a plurality of portions of the chamber to counter-balance lateral strain on the piston block.

For operating the gates independently of the piston block and blades, a gear wheel 20 is fixed on a cam hub 21, hereinafter to be described, which is in turn fixed on the engine shaft 9 and this gear wheel meshes with a pinion 22 on a shaft 23 which carries also a pinion 24 meshing with a pinion 25 on a horizontal shaft 26 and this shaft 26 drives a pair of cam shafts 27 through the medium of intermeshing beveled gears 28. A pivot shaft 29 of each gate 17 is extended outwardly of the casing and carries a lateral arm 30 with which is connected a cam rod 31 slidably mounted in bearings 32 on the side of the casing and this cam rod comprises sections held in laterally offset relation by a cam plate 33 which is engageable by cam wings 34 on the cam shaft 27, the lower section of the cam rod extending between said wings and extended into-a dash pot 35 which opposes movement of the cam rod in procuring retracting movement of the gate, it being noted that retracting move ment of each cam rod is effected by the cam wings. For retaining the gate in operative position across the chamber, a spring 36 is mounted on each rod. Thus the dash pot opposes the movement of the spring, and the spring opposes the movement of the cam to procure a positively controlled opera-.

sequent to movement of the blades therepast.

Although in the limit of movement of the piston blades away from the gates, the pressure of motive fluid would be considerably reduced due'to its expansion, yet a considerable resistance would still be ofl'ered to retracting movement of the gates in view of the atmospheric pressure in those portions of the chamber rearwardly of the gates. To relieve this pressure and thus permit ready retracting actuation of the gates, we utilize the particular arrangement of the piston block slot 15 in advance of the blades with respect to their direction of movement utilized as a by-pass channel. It is realized that any suitable by-pass means preferably carried by the piston could be utilized. Thus as each piston blade moves toward the corresponding gate, the slot 15 will extend past the gate to procure a balancing of pressure at both sides thereof.

Taking up now the combined valve means for introducing motive fluid to the different steam chambers, a valve casing 37 is mounted transversely on the casing and is provided with a central inlet port into which extends the main supply pipe 38. At each side of the central inlet port the casing is provided with a pair of opposed outlet ports 39 which are connected by pipes 40 with the inlet ports of one of the steam chambers. For independently controlling eachpair of ports 39 to provide for simultaneous opening thereof, a pair of hollow valve heads 41 are rotatably mountedin the end portions sponding valve outlet ports 39, these hollow heads beingaopeiiatxthein inner, 1 endsi and havingat.theirrouterzends; stems-e3 extend Vmgthrough and iiQt'lflIl'ElldliIi the ends of-thevalve; casing',2'=it being: noted that these stems of the gsides of theimainr actuating eagsh of the --a 1 cam rodlab-1s slidab'ly a spring-'52 mounted thereon and bearingagainst the collar- 47 and'the bracket l5.

The cam51fis timed to open the corresponding valve ports 39 immediately subsequenttoadvancing movement of the cams of the corresponding steam chamber, and

the-cam projection, holds the valve 'open during a' portion of the rotation of the piston blades between the gates. The valve ports are tlfn closed: and the blades travel the remainder of the,'distancebetween the gates by expansion; of the steam introduced into the chamber. jIt isunder diflering conditions desired to vary the amount of 'steam introduced into the chamber upon successive operations bf the valve, and to accomplish this, a means is" provided for varying the length of the operative face of the cam projection 51, which comprises a plate 53 loosely mounted on the engine shaft between the cam hub and the casing and provided in its inner fa e with an annular recess 5% concentric with the shaft and having slidably mounted therein blocks 55 from which extend bolts 56 passed through slots 57 in the plate and passed through the cam hub and adapted to clampingly hold the plate to the cam hub, said plate being provided with cam projections 58 which upon rotative adjustment of the plate are extensible past the cam portions 51 of the cam hub to thus vary the total length of operative cam face.

Pipes 59 extend from adjacent exhaust ports 20 of the steam chambers to a com- 5 mon exhaust head 60 at each side of the casing and from these exhaust heads, communicating pipes 61 extend. The main supply pipe 38 is provided with a valve 62 and 1mmediately above this valve a bleed p1pe 63 communicates with the main supply plpe 5 passing through the engine, this bleed .pipeand extends to one of the exhaust pipes 61, whereby when the engine is not running, water of condensation of steam in themain supply pipe will be conveyed awaywithout being controlled by a valve Gl'adjacent its Asso ciatedwith the main supply pipe, aboveancb beloiv the valve 62 respectively is an oil inlet 65--"connected with a suitable oil supply 7 i'mec'hanisin 66, and "a "conventional"steam l juncture with the main supplypipe.

gage 67-, although it"will be appreciated that these-devices are not'particularly perti-L *nent to the present invention.

Ive claim: 1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylindrical casing, a piston block ro-- tatable in said casing to define therewith an annular chamber. a shaft operable by the piston block, a piston blade carried by the piston block and projecting across the chamber and a gate movable across the chamber. of a slidable cam rod connected with the gate for advancing and retracting said gate. a spring connected with the rod for urging it in one direction of movement. a dash pot connected with the rod andoperable in opposition to the spring. and a cam member operable by the said piston block shaft and engageable with thecam rod in oppositionto the spring.

2. I11 a rotary engine, the combination with a cylindrical casing. a piston block rotatable in said casing to define therewith an annular chamber, a piston blade carried by the piston block and projecting across the chamber, a gate movable across the chamber,

an inlet port for the chamber and a valve controlling said inlet port; of means for advancing and retracting the gate in the chamber said inlet port valve being normally closed and means for opening said valve subsequent to advancing movement of the gate,

for a predetermined period of time, said means being adjustable to vary the lengths of the periods of time which the valve is open.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylindrical casing, a piston block rotatable in said casing to define therewith an,

annular chamber, a piston blade carried by the piston block and projecting across the chamber, a gate movable across the chamber, an inlet port for the chamberand a valve controlling said inlet port; of means for advancing and retracting the gate in the chamber and means urging said valve to closing position, ashaft operable by the piston block, a cam on said shaft, a member connected with the valve and engageable by the cam for opening the valve and means for varying the length of the operative face portion of the cam. v

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylindrical casing, 'apiston block rotatable in said casing to define therewith an annular chamber, a piston blade carried by the piston block and projecting across the chamber, a gate movable across the chamber, an inlet port for the chamber and a valve controlling said inlet port; of means for advancing and retracting the gate in the chamber and means urging said valve to closing position, a shaft operable by the piston block, a cam comprising a section fixed on the shaft and a section rotatively adjustable with respect to the first section, a face portion of the second section forming an extension of the face portion of the first section and a member engageable by the said face portions of the cam sections for opening the valve.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylindrical casing, and a piston block rotatable in said casing to define therewith an annular chamber; said piston block being provided in its peripheral portion with a transverse slot open at its sides and periphery and further provided with an open longitudinal peripheral slot communicating with the first slot, apiston blade in the transverse slot prO ecting from the periphery of the block and a securing tongue on Sitld blade projecting into the longitudinal .s 0t.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylindrical casing, and a piston block rotatable in said casing to define therewith an, annular chamber; said piston block being provided in its peripheral portion with a transverse slot open at its sides and periphery and further provided with'a longitudinal peripheral slot communicating with the first slot, a piston blade in the transverse slot projecting from the periphery of the block, a securing tongue on said blade projecting with a cylindrical casing,va journaled shaft. 'in the casing, apartition. in the casing, piston blocks on the shaft at the sides of the partition and forming a pair of annular chambers in the casing, a pair of piston blades on each block extending across the correspondingchamber, a pair of gates movable across each chamber, and a pair of inlet ports in the casing for each chamber, of av cylindrical valve casing having a central inlet port and a pair of spaced outlet ports at each side of the central inlet ports having communication with the.inlet ports of the annular chambers hollow valve heads rotatably mounted in the valve casing at the sides of the central inlet port, ports in the valve heads adapted for registry with corresponding outlet ports of the. valve casing and means for independently operating the valve heads.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing We have hereunto set out 'hands at, respectively, Cedar Rapids,' in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, and Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin. I

THOMASH. LINDLEY. HERMAN SCHREIER. 

